Authentic Transformation, Young Adults, and the Church

• One of the first books of its kind addressing how young adults are living in intentional community in the Episcopal Church

• Offers an example of how the church can be relevant to young adults, based on a highly-praised national model

• Each chapter includes questions for individual and group reflection

Young adults (18-30) are searching for a church that demands their involvement, whether it is in mission, worship, theology, or daily life. They want a church that is relevant and offers a vision of the Divine. This book places the church in context with consumerism, freedom of choice, war and terror, and the impact of technology now dominating the worldview of young adults. Drawing upon the proven success at St. Hilda’s House in New Haven, CT, this book provides stories and narratives from young adult interns, who are involved in its mission and ministry.

The Reverend Canon Robert Hendrickson is the Sub-Dean of Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver. He attended The University of Mississippi, Cornell University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and The General Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2011 and served as Curate and Missioner at Christ Church, New Haven where he started the Saint Hilda’s House young adult intentional community and the Ascension House intentional community. He has also worked with the Ecumenical Office of the Episcopal Church and co-founded the Society of Catholic Priests of the Episcopal Church. He blogs at The Sub-Dean’s Stall (thesubdeansstall.org).

“A book that points the way to new hope for the church, rooted not in innovation, but in the recovery of the most ancient traditions of the church: community, beauty, liturgy, service, prayer. Young adults are hungry for these ancient, transcendent experiences, and want to serve a God who calls them to give their best.” —The Reverend Susan Brown Snook, Vicar and church planter of The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Phoenix, Arizona

“Hendrickson is changing the conversation from being about young adults to being with young adults. The thoughts and reflections presented in this book speak to the very heart of what is it we should be doing and why we do it.” —Dante A. Tavolaro, Director of Ministry at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea, Narragansett, Rhode Island

“This collection provides striking testimony to the faith of a group of young adults involved in an intentional Christian community in the city of New Haven. Their thoughtful engagement with the Anglican tradition, their commitment to an authentic contemporary witness to the truth of the Gospel, their life of prayer and mutual support all inspire hope for the future of the Church.” —Dr. Harold W. Attridge, Sterling Professor of Divinity and dean of Yale Divinity School (2002-2012)

“In this wonderfully accessible book, Robert Hendrickson brings together the deep tradition and commitment to God’s mission at the heart of the Anglo-Catholic movement with the passion and spirituality of young adults today. The lessons it offers are far reaching for any church that seeks to be faithful to God’s mission in the twenty-first century. Read this book and be inspired.” —The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Ph.D., Episcopal Bishop of Connecticut